1 Samuel 1:1 Commentary and Bible Study

At the start of the book we are introduced to Elkanah of Ramah – initially called Ramathaimzophim, but subsequently shortened to Ramah – the father of Samuel who was the last of the judges and the first of the prophets. Possibly Ramah was about a day’s journey from Shiloh. Elkanah belonged to the tribe of Levi, a descendant of Kohath, one of the sons of Levi, as we learn from 1 Chronicles 634-38 where his ancestry is given in more detail. The term ‘Ephrathite’ may refer to Elkanah or to Zuph. Although it can mean to a member of the tribe of Ephraim, it also denotes those from Bethlehem – Ephratah being another name for Bethlehem (Genesis 35:19). Elkanah had two wives: the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah, and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children. Hannah means ‘grace’ or ‘favoured’, and Peninnah used to be thought to mean ‘pearl’, but nowadays the experts rather prefer it to be thought of as ‘ruby'. She was neither of course. She didn't have anything resembling the charm and grace and quiet spirit of a gemstone, least of all of a pearl.